Friday, April 29, 2011

So I feel like I might be recovered enough to post something about Viva. I've been rather sick since returning and haven't felt up to writing anything, but am slowly feeling better. Now I just think I have allergies. Yay!

This may sound funny but I wasn't feeling very excited in the week leading up to Viva. I don't really know why, but I had no motivation to pack or anything. Also, with Jean in from France we spent every day out and about so I felt tired and a bit unprepared. I finally took a day off to stay at home and get ready. That helped but I was still feeling a little down.

Wednesday-Wild Pre-Show

We flew out on Wednesday and had a drink at the airport and one on the plane. That helped get me excited! Once we checked in at the Orleans we went to TJI Fridays and ate our first of many meals there. Had a drink there and then another at the Alligator bar. It was still early and we decided that maybe, even though we hadn't planned on it, we would head over to the Wild Pre Show. The only problem was that we had no idea where it was. I finally ran into someone from Denver that had a flier so we hopped in a cab and headed over.

Now the reason we weren't going to go to the Wild show was primarily money. A $25 cab ride each way, $20 each to get in the venue, and money for drinks, meant we'd be spending a good chunk to see bands that Oscar has seen for years in LA. Also, we couldn't find the bar! It was on Fremont street and we wandered around collecting lost rockabilly people searching for the venue. Finally, though, we found it. Once we walked in we were greeted by this:

Itlooked worse in person! The girl﻿ bartenders had to wear pasties and panties and I felt so uncomfortable for them!! Why would you work somewhere that requires you dress like this?!

Anyways, the show was pretty good and it was packed! We saw Dustyn Chance and the Allnighters, Santos, and Omar. What I really liked was the DJ! It was Caveman Leo and he was playing all the killer shit!! (If I would've known that his DJ set was to be the best of the whole weekend I would've danced more, but I'll explain that more later.) I ran into my friends Patrick and Maya and hung out with them for a bit. Patrick is one of the funniest people I know and some of my most hilarious memories of Viva and the Rave are with him. We were reminiscing a bit and joking about the scantily clad bartenders.

With Patrick and Maya. I'm wearing my airplane outfit. Maya had some amazing rhinestone bangles on, so I am now inspired to start collecting them. Damn you Maya!!!

With Jean and Yara

I also got to see Kim and chat with her for a bit. Every time I hang out with her I like her more and more!!! I of course didn't take a picture though. I think we went back to the hotel around 2am. I rolled my hair, put my earplugs in, and passed out.

Thursday-Day 1

E and the rest of the SF crew arrived around 11. I had just woken up so I wrapped my hair, threw on my Freddies over my sleepy shirt, and met them at check in. I didn't even have on any makeup! I didn't care though cuz I needed coffee. The funny thing is that I got some compliments! We ran into Dollie and she got a picture of it so maybe she will post it for me. I felt like poop next to her, because she looked adorable in her yellow playsuit and I still has sleep in my eyes. Lol!

Thursday was a weird day for me. It was a lot of wandering around waiting for something to happen. I ate at TJI Fridays again, got my wrist band, sat at the bar drinking, bought supplies from the liquor store, and basically just waited. I got ready and of course didn't take and pictures of my early evening outfit. Sad, too, because its one of my favorite dresses I own. Here's a pic of it from a previous year:

Vintage animal print halter with rhinestones. It doesn't get much more perfect than that!

We went to the ballroom around 8 or 9 and waited some more. We wandered around the vendors, which were so packed I felt completely overwhelmed! I ran into Ashley from Lisa Freemont Pages and her adorable baby girl Ruby. Ashley is the sweetest girl and I give her major credit for bringing her kids with her. Thats commitment!!! I also saw Dollie again who was on a shopping frenzy! I didn't buy anything (yet) but I did get the chance to look around a bit.

Pachuco Jose y los Diamantes were going on at 10 and I was excited to see them perform. Oscar's been friends with Jose for years and I had talked to him a bit about how happy he was to finally be on the main stage, so I was looking forward to his set. He went on with a larger band than usual and it was really cool! They do Mexican cumbias and they rocked that ballroom! Everyone was dancing and really enjoying the music. Its totally different than most of the other bands at Viva and thats why I love it. They get up there and really put on a show and, whether you understand Spanish or not, the music makes your feet move.

Basically, that was the highlight of thursday night for me. I changed after that into my green Kamehameha dress so that I could dance the night away, but that didn't happen. I swear to God all I heard were boppers and strollers!! I jived maybe once. I knew that this would probably change after a certain time but I was so frustrated that I just went to bed. I think that was around 2:30.

With e and Natasha. FYI-that is not coffee in that cup!

Well thats it for now. I will have the rest of my Viva recap up soon. I promise!!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

I wanted to get a post in before I left for Vegas and update a few things. The first bit of new is that I got a job at Boss Vintage here in Denver. If you been or are going to Viva you will see that they have the biggest vendor booth there. We went in to look around the other day and they offered me a job so I'm pretty excited! I will get to work at a great store around fabulous clothes. And, I will be able to dress the way I prefer to.

The second bit of news has to do with Lauren Rennells fabulous new book Retro Makeup: Techniques for Applying the Vintage Look. First, it is a fabulous book and a great companion to her Vintage Hairstyling book so everyone should pick up a copy ASAP!! Second, I am in it! I had the opportunity to model for Lauren a few months back and finally got to see the finished product and I am quite happy with it. I did a Hedy Lamarr look in one and also reproduced some vintage cosmetics adds. If you get the chance to see the book look for me :-)

Lastly, here are some photos from the past few days.

Faux bangs, which I managed to wear fro 3 days straight.

With Oscar's friend Jean from Frnace.

Faux bangs take 2.

At the Skylark wth Jean and Yara.

Faux bangs take 3, at The Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

We leave for Vegas tomorrow so tonight I am going to set my hair and finish packing. I will have lots of pictures to post when I return!!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Tara at The DC Metro Retro had a giveaway on her blog and I won!! I got a brand new package of Too Faced Shadow Insurance that I received in the mail today. I can't wait to use it at Viva! Thank you Tara!!!

I wanted to share with you guys a couple new things I got from Ebay. They are tap pants and I'm going to wear them as bloomers under my dress. I bid on impulse and I'm so glad I did because they are really pretty!!

They were only $10 for both and they have the cute little side buttons. Adorable!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Its been about a year since I started this blog. I really didn't know where it was going to go, I just knew that I wanted to present a Rockabilly option. I'd been following blogs for a while and felt an overwhelming dislike and misunderstanding of what Rockabilly is. There were lots of negative comments and shouts of "I'm not rockabilly!!!" which I always found funny, especially when they were coming from people who were, at one time, into it. I never understood bashing something that you used to be a part of. I can understand if it really is not what you are into, but it just seemed like it was 'cool' to not be rockabilly.

I'm not trying to rant here or call anyone out. My goal was always to present all of this in a positive light. To share the things I love with whoever chooses to follow me. I never want to make anyone feel bad for who they are, how they dress, or what they enjoy. Its not my place to judge. Not that I don't judge, because I think everyone does, but I have no interest in ranting those things on here.

For the most part this has been a really great, positive experience. I have never gotten any hate mail or negative comments. I'm sure there are those out there that don't like me or think I am a vintage snob, as that seems to be what all vintage lovers get called at some point, but I don't really give a rats ass. There is snobbery in every scene, every group, everywhere and you can feed into it, let it bother you, or just ignore it. I just ignore it. And at the end of the day is it really that big a deal? So someone at the bar is judging you for wearing a repro dress, or wearing a vintage dress...do you really care? Does it really bother you? It shouldn't.

Wow, this kinda did turn into a rant. I apologize. I just want everyone to know where I am coming from. I try to talk about lots of different things on my blog because I am interested in all of them. I do associate myself with the Rockabilly crowd (proudly) but thats not all I am. I like modern music and pop culture, history and paranormal. I love and collect vintage but I also have a weakness for Forever 21. And it may shock some of you, but I like repro!! I love Heyday and Trashy Diva and Whirling Turban, just to name a few. I try to share all of that on here and I try to keep it all positive. This started as a happy escape from my crappy job and even though I don't have the crappy job anymore I'd still like to keep this blog upbeat.

Well as a thank you for following me I am planning a giveaway. I am not sure yet what it will be so keep checking back. I have a lot of things going on this month and will be really busy, so I will have to see if I can even do a giveaway in that time. But I just want everyone to know that I appreciate them and their comments.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

This is the stunning Jenny Gale and she lives in my favorite city, San Francisco. Her blog is beautiful and interesting and she writes about a variety of topics. So head on over there and let her know I sent you. You won't regret it!

About Holly

I'm a vintage obsessed Rockabilly girl and proud of it!! I'm also a fully modern gal not interested in living in the past. I just prefer to incorporate the past into my present. I love makeup and anything girly. I dance lindy, jive and collegiate shag and listen to a wide variety of music. This is just a little glimpse into my life. http://www.facebook.com/temperamentalbroad